I received an e-mail from a journalist asking, “Ted, do you think Donald Trump is the anti-Christ?”
I chuckled thinking that in my lifetime someone, somewhere has accused every President and Pope of being the Antichrist. And now, with fear being generated from terrorism and political confusion, it’s inevitable that people will start thinking in terms of the end times again.
In my response to the journalist, I explained that there are many antichrists, and then gave him four Scriptures to examine:
- “Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come” 1 John 2:18.
- “And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist” 1 John 2:22.
- “ But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here” 1 John 4:3.
- “ I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist” 2 John 1:7.
Undeterred, the journalist pressed further saying he wanted to know if Trump could be the one Antichrist referred to in the book of Revelation (see Revelation 19 and 20). I told him that certain Christian Bible teachers continually point to current events believing they prove that the return of Christ is imminent; yet many of their predictions have not come true. Then I told him that Jesus’ comment in Matthew 24:14 makes me think we have more work to do here on the earth before the Antichrist will surface.
Jesus said,
‘And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
This verse has been taught two different ways:
One emphasizes the word “nations” could also be translated “people groups” or “ethno-linguistic groups,” which are groups of people who have their own ethnicity and language. In other words, for this Scripture to be fulfilled, there has to be a witness for the Gospel within every people group on the planet, and then the end will come. As a result, many strategic churches and missions organizations have made lists of the remaining unreached people groups and identified them for focused prayer, evangelism, and church-planting. Because of these efforts, the list of unreached people groups is getting smaller. But there are still unreached groups.
Another interpretation of this verse is that the Gospel will circle the globe, and then the end will come. Advocates of this position emphasize how the Gospel launched in Jerusalem, spread throughout the Middle East, then expanded to Europe and portions of Asia and northern Africa, then to the Americas, the rest of Africa and Asia, and is currently growing rapidly in China and India, with the expectation it will return to Jerusalem through Chinese and Asian missionaries. Thus, the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout (around) the whole world.
The modern Sunni – Shia conflict in the Middle East that is terrorizing the region and much of the world is a strong geographical, political, and theological barrier between the Chinese and Asian Christian missionaries and Jerusalem. If this interpretation is correct, it would highlight the significance of this conflict as an attempt to slow or block the completion of this biblical prophecy.
Both of these interpretations are closer than ever to being fulfilled. However, today neither of them are complete. Thus, it’s my guess that the end times figure, the Antichrist from the book of Revelation, is not currently on the scene. As a result, for this and many other reasons, I don’t think Trump is the Antichrist.
I concluded my email exchange with a dissatisfied journalist. Just as many friends of mine have been disappointed that the Lord has not yet returned, so this journalist seemed dismayed that his story idea lacked foundation. (I hope he doesn’t find someone that will agree with him about Trump and use his material as a basis for an upcoming article.)
I do believe that we are in the last days, and that the return of Christ is closer than it’s ever been. I also believe that we don’t know everything about the second coming of Christ, just like the first century Bible scholars who didn’t recognize Christ the first time. Thus, my admonition is that we all need to live our lives as if Jesus is returning today, but plan our lives as though he will not return in our lifetimes. That way we will conform to Jesus’ command to always be ready, while avoiding foolish speculations that keep us from fulfilling our present duties.
(All of the italics and bold emphases in above Scriptures are mine.)
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10 replies on “Is Trump the Antichrist?”
You are simply amazing, Pastor Ted! Thank you once again – for the reminder to hold tight to the truth of God. Your honesty is so encouraging!
My deep, uplifting prayers to you and your beautiful family always!!!
Pam Vann
It does say in Revelation 14:6-13 that there will be Three Angels proclaiming God’s Truth which may mean that not all the world will hear the Good News AFTER the rapture takes place. They will have to make their choice/decision to accept Christ during the Tribulation period and refrain from taking the mark of the beast. This would mean that Jesus CAN come at any time AND that the Anti-Christ could be on earth now but hasn’t been revealed yet!
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Blessings to you,
Tami
I hope you’re right about Trump, Ted, because he looks about as unchristian as I can imagine. The hypocrites who fawn on him are sewing great seeds of distrust in the church.
https://613test.com/2016/09/17/god-hates-trump/
Those who have an ear must hear: “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” The signs, in stealth for these many centuries, are in reveal and that which we know follows unhindered. It was calling to you daily, in your ear and before your eyes, and you did not notice. You believed its message, the slow and steady repetition. You are its incongruity. With the ballot you succumbed, confusing its message with safety, the sirens of familiar and pleasant voices, and you failed to live and work the message of forgiveness and good will. Falling prey to fear, divisiveness, and rage was to relinquish your soul to it. You believed, despite what you knew to be true. The betrayal is self-inflicted. And now you stand upon the sand of the sea, as blasphemy rises up out of the sea to defeat righteousness. Miracles many may witness, but few will understand. The great book you read falls at your side, torn asunder, shedding tears. You lifted yourself above others, and your self-righteousness portends your disaster. Your fear has hastened, indeed birthed, the revelation, and now it has begun. Frozen in terror, you remain unconvinced that your destiny remains in your hands.
My name is Jonathan Dane. In the summer of 2016, before Pres. Trump was elected, I wrote an exhaustive book, based on Scripture, with a most certain conclusion that Donald Trump is the Antichrist. The book is titled, RISE OF THE LITTLE HORN. Don’t take my word for it, investigate for yourselves. I have devoted a Facebook page with excerpts from my book, as well as additional copious material. I assure you, I can defend this view. Not only has there not been a objection I couldn’t answer, in every case, that objection was already preempted in the book. Please check out my page, https://www.facebook.com/RiseOfTheLittleHorn/
Time will tell.
Hello Ted, thank you for your post and links. I was very skeptical of Trump from the beginning, but it’s now clear that his governance is completely antithetical to the great teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Trump is a complete abomination – a serial liar, an unrepentant financial huckster, a narcissist, a xenophobe, and a divider of our people who uses a bullying disposition to charge his ego. His total lack of compassion toward anyone outside his sphere of darkness indicates he is as far outside of the Christian ethic as it gets. I strongly urge my fellow Christian brothers and sisters to stand up for Christ, not Trump. And I pray that Trump will find peace with himself through God.
Etymology is the root of the word.
Donald (Donna = Lady) Don= Lord. Donald = Lord of the world(ALD)
Trump (related to Trumpet), in french, means DECEIVER.
Trompe le Monde means to Fool/deceive the world.
Check revelation 12:9 in most translations of the Bible.
The 3 1/2 year mark will be this may. Let’s see if he turns on Israel and persecutes her. Interesting! (But I don’t think he is (but I could be wrong)).
Thank you for writing.